Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German

Subject: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: Adrian Carter
Date: 05 Aug 97 - 11:16 AM

Heard this on my car radio, recurrent theme is "If you want people to like you, learn German. You'll have a ball when you're spreken der Deutsch .....". Loved it, but never caught the author's name, or where I could get it from. Can anybody help out?

Adrian

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From:
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 01:00 AM

Did you ever find out anything about "The Naff"?
I did buy a copy of this in the 80's but it has long since gone missing.
I never did know anything about them but I would dearly like to get another copy of this record.
After hearing it on the radio, in Hobart, I immediately raced out and bought it. It remains one of my favourite novelty records along with the Idi Amin parodies.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Chris Mayne.
By the way, where are you? (geographically)

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 01:18 AM

Ach du Leuiber!

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: MudGuard
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 03:30 AM

Hm. People should like me then, I learned German about 36 years ago and speak it fluenlty...

But I do have to say, I do not like all the German-speaking people...

Foolestroope, did you mean "Ach Du Lieber"? "Leuiber" is not a German word.

MudGuard (from Munich, Germany)

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: Jeanie
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 03:51 AM

Ohne Zweifel !

;)

- jeanie

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: sian, west wales
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 04:22 AM

And we DO like you, Mudguard!

See - it's true.

sian

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 07:01 AM

So do we get the song?

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 09:30 AM

Sorry, Mudguard - typo - I do have German ancestors...

Robin

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: Amos
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 09:48 AM

Sure, I want people to like me...but not THAT much!


A

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: Tyke
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 03:02 PM

refreshing

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: Bill D
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 03:50 PM

übershrift der Versicherungsgeselleschaften von veile gesprachene! Das Shöneveigle zervaldet am drosten zur feiegkeit...

am I popular yet? No? How about in France?

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: Amos
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 03:53 PM

Verdamt Bosche!! Va ten!!

A

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: mike the knife
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 04:58 PM

Tut mir leid BillD, aber ihrem Post is nur 'ne Wortsalat.
Ich habe aber ziemlich hart darrueber gelacht...

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: izzy
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 05:03 PM

I think you mean "va-t'en," Amos, if that's French you're speaking--

Ich spreche beide Franzosisch und Deutsch. That should cover all the bases...

:)

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: Bill D
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 05:23 PM

Wortsalat? Mit Sauce?

(That last part was from an article on double-talk in other languages I read years ago)

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 05:29 PM

Kish mein der tuchas

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: LilyFestre
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 06:40 PM

D~E~U~T~S~C~H....DEUTSCH DEUTSCH....JA JA JA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gruss Gott!!!!

Tschuss!!!

Michelle

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: mack/misophist
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 06:54 PM

Guest chrismayne mentioned 'the Naff'. If that's an English reference, I can't help. If not, you may be thinking of 'the Naz' by Lord Buckley.

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: LadyJean
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 11:21 PM

My grandmother was fluent in French and German. I tried. My French isn't too bad. But I only had two quarters of German in college. German declines. So did I.
I was in Gstaad, in the off season! with my mother. We went into a store to buy chocolate. (Toblerones! Switzerland's greatest contribution to civilization!) I stopped to tie my shoe, so mother and I didn't go into the store together. They knew mother spoke English. What else would a woman in a tweed suit and oxfords speak? But they spoke to me in German! I can still speak enough to buy chocolate. Aber das is alles. And I couldn't tell you if they liked mother more, or me.

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Oct 03 - 01:41 AM

MudGuard, are you telling us that you are but 36 years old. I, too, learned German about 36 years ago - but not so fluently. Still, I'm not bad at it. I can't pass for a native in Germany, but people in other places in Europe have often thought I was German. When I was in Greece this summer, two storekeepers addressed me in German when I walked in the door.
Sure beat the hell out of trying to speak Greek - although I did that, too.
So, do you think we'll ever get the lyrics to this song?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: MudGuard
Date: 04 Oct 03 - 02:58 AM

No, Joe, I am not 36, I am 37 and some months.
But I think I did not really learn to speak German before I was about a year... ;-)

Bill D, as all the words in your post above which are longer than 3 letters are incorrect, you are not yet popular ;-) But you are in good company, most of the so-called German in this thread is not really German ;-)

Ok, now it is your turn to complain about my so-called English!

Subject: RE: Ahah!: so That's why I'm Despised & Rejected!?
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 05 Oct 03 - 12:25 AM

Mein Leibe Muddcatten:

You know, Deutche is one of those languages I've long wanted to learn, but never got around to it.
Don't know why I've so admired it - it's just a nifty way to express oneself, it seems. And I'm a big fan of Old-World Deutche engineering and craftsmanship.

BMWs; Mausers; Leicas; Zeiss scopes and Bins...can't beat 'em!

Thanks to a dear Deutch Cyber-Friend (met right here on the Mudcat, BTW), I have picked up a few things, but wish I could spend some time over there with the folks, as that's about the only way I can pick up a language.

She's a Linguist, BTW, and fluent in several languages - which might help, too.

OH!; while we're at this;

I've been building a traditional rural Yankee outhouse in our back yard (much to the Neighbor's consternation) for the better part of this Summer, to take and erect on our little plot of woods we recently acquired on Berry Pond in Winthrop (a real pretty spot).
I've been wondering what the Deuthce phrase for "Outhouse" or "Privvy" might be.

Don't know why, really, just that naming it something like "Der Sheissenhaben" might add a certain touch of class - don't you think?

Say; how do you make those little "Umlattas" or double-dotty things over certain Deutche vowels? Is there a keyboard trick to it, or do I have to get a special font / program for it?

Just in case the word for "Backhouse" requires one, you see.

Guten Tag; (How's that!?)

Onkel Jaque

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Oct 03 - 01:14 AM

Sorry, Mudguard, but I can't come up with any good complaints about your English. I have a son who's just seven years younger than you. He was born in Berlin, but has spoken only English all his life. I wish he would speak English as well as you do, but he's stubborn.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: alanabit
Date: 05 Oct 03 - 10:12 AM

I often meet young Irish lads here who despair of ever learning the language. (I gave up years ago). I always tell them the same thing.
"Listen mate, one night you will be sitting here in this bar and you will find some blond haired, blue eyed girl whom you want to take home with you. Believe me, you'll start speaking German as well as any son of a bitch that has ever walked in this bar!"

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: Tasmanian Devil
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 06:08 AM

It's more than 7 years since Adrian Carter first asked about the novelty recording by "The Naff": "If you want people to like you speak German".
It is nearly 1 year since I asked the same question.
Can anyone suggest further lines of enquiry?
I have been to music stores and just received blank looks when enquiring about "The Naff".
I have searched the net (with my very limited computer skills) and "The Mudcat Cafe" is the only souce so far.
If Adrian Carter reads this: Have you had any luck?
Regards to all from freezing cold Southern Tasmania.
Chris Mayne (Tasmanian Devil)

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 07:55 AM

Sounds like a great song--any chance anybody can get the lyrics?


Also the Germans get a bad rap in the accusation they have no sense of humor. Schobert und Black, for instance, did a great Walter Mitty-type song called "Freddy the Gun", and somebody, Udo Juergens, I think, did "Der Jazz kommt aus Hamburg", complete with "When the Saints Go Marching In" excerpts auf Deutsch, among other song quotes. Holds its own with Tom Lehrer. If you speak a language, I think, you find out virtually everybody has a sense of humor.

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: alanabit
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 11:48 AM

Quite right Ron. There is a great writer/performer from Vienna called Georg Kreissler. He lived in New York for some time and wrote many wickedly funny songs in both English and German. His song about a psychopath is very reminiscent of the best of Tom Lehrer.

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 12:23 PM

And always bear in mind that IF you want people to like you , then learn SOME of THEIR Language , whereever you are ! Yes , No , Please , and Thank you along with Excuse me are a Damn good start whereever you are .Of course ,Americans visiting United Kingdom have more problems than anyone else (Two Nations divided by a common language)

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: GUEST,Anne Croucher
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 06:47 PM

Don't try speaking Welsh with a Yorkshire accent in Llangollan even if you can manage the ll.

Now there is a people with no sense of humour.

Anne

Subject: RE: If you want people to like you, learn German
From: Rasener
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 01:17 PM

I am sure older dutch people don't like people speaking German. Ask my father in law. Oh you can't sorry, because he is dead now, but when alive he didn't trust any German after what they did to Holland and some of his Jewish friends in the war. He wasn't Jewish. The stories he used to tell me about Holland when it was taken over by the Germans. If my father in law was still alive, he would always send a German in the oppsite direction to where they wanted to go.

Fortunately, the younger generation have forgiven and do not look at the Germans in the same way.

I speak Dutch, maybe thats why my wife liked me :-)

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,Peter Mackay
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 02:16 AM

I know that Clive Robertson used to play the song regularly on Sydney's 2BL ABC radio station back in the 1980s. That's about the limit of my knowledge. If someone has a contact for Clive then maybe he could help track down a copy.

P

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,Diana
Date: 15 Jul 06 - 12:04 AM

Interessting thoughts on here.
Kinda confusing though.
I think anyone can apreciate a foreign visitor trying to speak their language, nowadays so many germans speak english or french though, as they learn it starting in elementary school.
I think the best thing you can do to be liked is not to assume that just because you speak a foreign language no people will understand you.
I have met americans and Brits in Germany that talked about the German people around them and then were astonished when I just looked at them and said:"Now that was not very nice!"
Then again I met Germans doing the same in America.

I am a German, who now lives in the USA. I am teaching both of my kids to speak, read and eventually write German.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn Ger
From: mack/misophist
Date: 15 Jul 06 - 11:57 AM

Some time back a group called 'Fascinatin' Aida' did this song. They don't seem to be active any more but if some one knows an ex-member...

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Ron Davies
Date: 15 Jul 06 - 12:24 PM

I'd love to hear this song.

It seems pretty clear that the more languages you speak, the better--and it's also a lot of fun.

It's also clear, as discussed earlier, that the Germans get a bad rap in the allegation they have no sense of humor.

When I was there there were great songs, Ulrich Roski, Schobert and Black, and Udo Juergens, for instance. One of Roski's songs, "Des Pudels Kern" was about a guy who was looking for mushrooms and strayed into a maneuvers area. Picked up for spying, he was grilled for names--so he gave them a lot of names of mushrooms. They were impressed.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 05:50 PM

Googling with the phrase "If You Want People to Like You Learn German" finds nothing (except Mudcat). Allmusic.com doesn't list it either. Neither do they list a band called "The Naff". In fact, I can't find anything on the Internet that confirms that a band called "The Naff" ever existed. Strange.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 08:23 PM

G'day (GUEST,Peter MacKay),

I knew that Clive Robertson had some strange (eclectic) tastes / selections back when he ran the 2BL "Drivetime" program ... and I do remember hearing this song on Sydney radio. It quite probably was on "Drivetime", as I drove home from work ... one of the few times I got to hear the radio.

Maybe we need to e-mail / phone him and ask if he remembers anything about the track!

Regards,

Bob (still in Sydney)

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn Ger
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 03:31 AM

Uncle Jaque (or Uncle Jack, or Oncle Jacques, or Onkel Jakob?) - For an outhouse we have in German slang Plumpsklo = thudbog.

Witty and humourous German singers are Reinhard Mey, Ulrich Roski and Hannes Wader (the famous three of Berlin, in the seventies).
And there were Ingo Insterburg and Company, in the same time, famous for their musical jokes and sometimes very unusual instruments.

Learn German with the Hymn to Mrs Pohl, his old landlady, about the conflicts after a jag in her house (Hannes Wader also mentioned as a participant).One of my favourite songs - I had some strange landladies, too, at university.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: alanabit
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 06:56 AM

On the pop music side, "Die Prinzen" have recorded a lot of witty and funny songs. "Die "Ärtzte", ("The Doctors") are a little too hard edged for everyone's tastes, but they can be devastatingly funny at times too. "Männer Sind Schweine" is a classic.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: alanabit
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 07:18 AM

You need a little German for this one, but it is hilarious. It's by Die Prinzen.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Slag
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 04:39 PM

My great grandfather, a German always said that the only time a German was happy was when he had his foot on somebody's throat! Ack!

Vee haf vays oof dealing mitt your kind! Papers, you vill show your papers!

Joe, I read Hellenic! My pronunciation, I'm sure, leaves a lot to be desired!

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: alanabit
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 02:32 AM

I think your great grandfather must have been talking about the Germans you see in the Pinewood studio films of the fifties. I recall hearing another silly cliche´ about Germans always being, "either at your feet or at your throat".
The bureaucrats do have frightening power over here, but it is rare for them to threaten and bully. Last week, for instance, I got a new tax bill within a week. They had sent me a warning estimate, after my figures had gone in several months late. To be fair to them, they behaved very much better than I did. I would have been a lot less fortunate in the UK!
There is plenty to poke fun at here and German culture has as many aberrations as any other. Humor works when you recognise the targets. The silly jokes based on the comic book stereotypes of the fifties and sixties are getting a little tiresome. We are a couple of generations on and no one recognises these cardboard cut outs any more. The "evil Nazi swine" is no more of a typical German than Jack the Ripper is a typical Englishman.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn Ger
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 03:54 AM

Thanks, alanabit - it is better if such statements are made by observers coming from abroad and not by the people concerned.
Yes, we Europeans have learned the bitter lessons of two big wars; stereotypes won't help us any more, but respect for the other ones' rights and ways. The Mudcat, by the way, I experienced as very helpful to know strangers better, and suddenly they are strangers no more, but good friends even if you never have met them.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Slag
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 02:25 PM

My great grandfather lived in the mid to late 1800's, not quite the 1950 's or 60's. It was a different world back then. When you consider that the English would always try to position "Germantown" or "Dutchtown" between them and any possible hostilities from the frontier in those day you can understand why there may have been a little bellacosity. Said saying was passed on to me by my mother, now in her 80's!

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,matt
Date: 17 Jun 07 - 03:48 PM

Hi my name is Matt Cook. I am 11 years old and can speak some German.Not much but I can speak German. I have always wanted to learn it. Because two years ago I found out my great grandfather was German and immigrated to America in 1942.His name was Mathias Koch,in English means Matthew Cook. I learned German from books I read and tv shows I watched.Eventhough I know German I am not popular.But I have a girlfriend.Which is pretty good.She has german ancestors too.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,matt
Date: 17 Jun 07 - 03:54 PM

It's me again I was wondering. How do you count to 80 in german?

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 17 Jun 07 - 05:15 PM

Well, one of the few songs I learnt from my mother was the Bayerische Marsch, but it only started from 20.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,matt
Date: 17 Jun 07 - 05:50 PM

That's ok I already know 1 thru 20.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn Ger
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Jun 07 - 05:52 PM

"Don't Mention the War" (You Tube Fawlty Towers video clip.)

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Jun 07 - 05:57 PM

Not sure I understand your question, Matthew. The number just before achtzig is neun und siebzig or siebzig neun.

I like the Men are Schweine song. I'd like to hear it sung!

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,Cookie a.k.a Matt
Date: 17 Jun 07 - 06:05 PM

thanks Kitty would you e-mail it to me?